Without broad belief in a national crime wave, the defense for many of President President Donald Trump's policies would crumble. And, recent comments from Republican leaders show bipartisan support for criminal justice reform continues.

Sen. Sessions has spoken out against Republican-led, bipartisan sentencing reform. He has also expressed skepticism of federal oversight of troubled police departments, and aggressively pursued drug convictions as a U. S. Attorney.

The Brennan Center's new report on unnecessary incarceration, its year-end look at 2016 crime numbers, and an advocacy push to get President Obama to expand clemency efforts his last month in office are all featured in December's update.